Imagine floating down the Mississippi River on a steamboat reading Mark Twain as you wait for your river water sample to settle so you can begin a biology experiment.

During your travels, the steamboat may stop for you to capture a picturesque scene of the bluffs on film. Before you leave, you’re able to study the history of the earth in the bluff rock.

This type of interdisciplinary education was presented to a group of top students from several Winona area high schools during Winona State University’s River Excursion in October 2004. The excursion provided a way for WSU faculty to tell potential students about the proposed new interdisciplinary river studies program the university plans to begin in Fall 2005, coinciding with the roll-out of WSU’s Winona Experience plan.

Students from Plainview, Houston, St. Charles and Caledonia, Minn., schools traveled aboard the Julia Belle Swain steamboat as they listened to a group of WSU professors explain how the different aspects of the Mississippi River can be applied to several disciplines. Heidi Allen, a senior at St. Charles High School, said it was a good experience to ride on the river and hear about a new way to learn.

“I hadn’t been on a field trip since eighth grade,” said Allen. “So, this was a fun learning experience away from school.”

The WSU River Excursion program was made possible through a generous donation from an anonymous Texas alumnus. Mike Swenson, director of major gifts, said it’s donations like this that make a big difference in the type of programs and opportunities we can offer students.

“The generous donors who provide gifts for Winona State,” said Swenson, “are helping ensure that our institution fulfills its mission to improve our world.”

The proposed interdisciplinary river program would be made up of 25 students who would live in the same residence hall. They would take a cluster of five courses focused on the Mississippi River, including English composition, American history, photography, biology and a fifth course which would require a student to analyze how each of these subjects are related. The interdisciplinary course will fulfill university studies courses required by WSU. Drake Hokanson, assistant professor in mass communication and co-organizer of the interdisciplinary program, said this style of learning is beneficial for students.

“Students realize that the world is interdisciplinary. Why shouldn’t education also be interdisciplinary,” said Hokanson. “When students have the opportunity to see these things as a whole, rather than as components, then really neat things can happen for them.”

Many of the students on the steamboat enjoyed their lesson on interdisciplinary education. Brianna Polus, a senior at Caledonia High School, feels students would be able to learn a lot outside of the classroom because of the hands-on experience.

“I think it’d be really smart to offer a course like this because there are so many things for students to learn, use and see on the river,” said Polus. “Otherwise, it’d be like living in Washington, D.C., and not using the resources.”

Several faculty members are working on the logistics behind implementing the interdisciplinary program. The goal is to allow students to register for this program by the fall semester.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:26 by Rhone Richard